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Updated: April 20, 2025 @ 10:34 am
Loie McLaine (right) signs with Winthrop on an esports scholarship next to the university’s esports coach Sheldon Williams (left).
Loie McLaine (right) speaks with classmates after signing with Winthrop University on an esports scholarship.
Fort Dorchester High School teacher Damond Howard, who founded the school’s esports program, speaks at student Loie McLaine’s signing.
Aeon Bailey is a general assignment reporter for The Summerville Journal Scene.
Loie McLaine (right) signs with Winthrop on an esports scholarship next to the university’s esports coach Sheldon Williams (left).
In the McLaine household, doing the dishes can be put on hold while video games take priority. That’s because esports, or competitive gaming, is helping to fund Fort Dorchester High School student Loie McLaine’s education at Winthrop University. McLaine earned a scholarship from the school by competing in the esports program, and the school hosted a signing day on Friday, April 11 — the first signing day of its kind at the school.
McLaine, who competes playing the video games Overwatch and Marvel Rivals, said they look up to professionals such as Grant Espe, who goes by Moth in virtual spaces, as well as Se-yeon Kim, who goes by Geguri.
“She was the first female in the Overwatch league, which is the esport I watched, and she didn’t take anything from anyone,” McLaine said. “She really was there, going to prove herself, and I definitely looked up to her when I came into the esports space, which is a very male-dominated space. I definitely looked up to Geguri for that attitude of, ‘I’m not going to let anyone tell me what I can and can’t do, because I will prove it to myself.’”
McLaine said they got their start playing video games “early on,” but that it was Fort Dorchester High School’s esports program that helped them find their talent for competition.
“I think that once I realized that I could be one of them, it was probably my sophomore year, because when we first started the esports program here, Mr. Howard said, ‘By the way, you can earn scholarships for some of these,’” McLaine said. “I thought, ‘Oh, there’s no way, I’m not going to have time for that.’ Then, I came to realize a year after, ‘Oh, wait, that’s totally going to be me.’”
Teacher Damond Howard leads the esports program and spoke at McLaine’s signing. He explained that he developed the program with input and help from students like McLaine.
Fort Dorchester High School teacher Damond Howard, who founded the school’s esports program, speaks at student Loie McLaine’s signing.
“I want Winthrop University and the esports program to know that they’re getting not only a great esports athlete, but a great leader,” Howard said.
McLaine’s father, Matt McLaine, also enjoys the same games. He spoke about their bond over the shared activity, as well as his pride for his child’s achievement.
“It was amazing to know that, No. 1, this has become something in which you can have a scholarship and you can have a signing day, that you can have an event dedicated to it, that you can use this as a springboard into a full-time, four-year university,” Matt McLaine said. “It has just been amazing.”
He shared his hopes for the future, saying he wants his child to “stay happy and healthy and to pursue whatever it is they dream of.”
Loie McLaine (right) speaks with classmates after signing with Winthrop University on an esports scholarship.
After the signing, the family, including McLaine’s mother, Gretchen McLaine, shared a celebratory hug. Also in attendance was Winthrop esports coach Sheldon Williams.
“It’s something you can dedicate and put some time into, and you can learn those leadership skills,” Williams said. “The reason you’re here is leadership skills, confidence, being able to build up other people, working well with others.”
Aeon Bailey is a general assignment reporter for The Summerville Journal Scene.
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